The secret to bigger profits in direct sales often resides with your team of sales representatives.  While team members will come and go as life changes, a team that feels respected, supported, and has fun is a great way to build a long lasting relationship.

Here are a few steps to building a relationship with your team that lasts.  


Welcome each team member.  Getting off on the right foot is incredibly important.  As each new member joins your team, create a special welcome for them.  It may be something as simple as a team wide announcement; it may be a welcome gift.  The choice is yours.

Provide a good beginning training and offer regular trainings to keep skills, and interest fresh.  Consider asking team members to host trainings and even contribute.  For example if you have a team member that does well with online sales, ask them to host a training on online sales.  Including your members in team building is a great way to acknowledge them and grow as a team.

Keep in regular contact.  One great way to accomplish this is to have a team newsletter. In the newsletter you can address important dates, tips, tools and more.  Blogs and chat rooms are also a great way to connect, commiserate, and support each other.  

Contests and incentives.  Motivation is the key to keeping folks jazzed to sell.  Hold monthly contests and offer incentives, monetary and gifts, for top sellers and contest winners.  

Acknowledge members.  It is important to not only provide recognition when team members do well it is nice to acknowledge them personally.  For example, send birthday cards, days members joined the team, and recognize your team on special holidays.  A personal touch goes a long way toward making members feel special and a part of a great team.

A team is only as good as their leader.  As the leader of a direct sales team connecting with them on a personal and a professional level, providing tools for success, and incentives that make being a direct sales representative fun and engaging is a great way to build a team that lasts.